Taking the time to dance with ghosts along the way: February 2015

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Scarecrow

Album: Modest Revolution
Instruments: Guitar
Key: C
Guitar tuning: Standard tuning
Time Signature: 4/4

During the D/Dsus2 parts of the chorus, you can fiddle around with Dsus4 as well, I think. Also, the Cadd9 in the intro goes to Cmaj7 sometimes.

Bm7:x|2|4|2|3|2

C9: x|3|2|0|3|3 (actually Cadd9)

Cmaj7: x|3|2|0|0|3

D: x|x|0|2|3|2

D2: x|x|0|2|3|0 (Dsus2)

Dsus4: 2|0|0|2|3|4

D4: 2|0|0|2|3|3 (Dadd4)

Em7:0|2|2|0|3|3

Em9:0|2|4|0|0|0 (Emadd9)

G: 3|2|0|0|3|3

Am7:x|0|2|0|1|0

B7: x|2|1|2|0|2

Capo 5th fret

intro:

Bm7 Bm7 C9 C9

Bm7 Bm7 Em9 Em

Bm7 Bm7 Am7 D

Em7 D4 G

little wonder

C9 G D D2

wide awake

Em7 D4 G

buried under

C9 G D D2

the promises you make

Em7 D4 G

don't be worried

C9 B7 Em D C9

somebody's gotta take you home

remember

if you fall

fall with grace

Bm7 Em9 Em

don't let 'em see the fear upon your face

if you break

break the reins

Bm7 C9

it's better up in lights than down in flames

(2nd and 3rd times:)

Em D C9

and I will do the same

(repeat intro instrumental)

city soldier

tall and proud

find your pleasure

wherever you're allowed

underwater

someone's gotta take you home

keep you on your throne

chorus

solo (listen to get rhythm):

D D Em7 Em7

G G D D

Am7 G C9

bastard brother

so far away

if I call you

I wonder what you'll say

little wonder

home is just a word to me now

chorus

intro instrumental + final G chord

Sycamore

Album: Penny Red
Instruments: Guitar
Key: A
Guitar Tuning: Standard tuning

This song was written and recorded for Whitelake (but not included in the final album), and released for free as part of the fundraiser for Modest Revolution, and then officially released on Penny Red.

Play this with a capo on the 2nd fret to match the album; all chords here are relative to the capo.

chord progression for intro and verses:

E--|-3--2--0--2--| E--|-4--1-----1--|

B--|-3--3--3--3--| B--|-3--3--3--3--|

G--|-0--0--0--0--| play with fingering: G--|-------------|

D--|-0--0--0--0--| D--|-------------|

A--|-x--x--x--x--| A--|-------------|

E--|-3--3--3--3--| E--|-2--2--2--2--|

chord progression for chorus:

E--|-0--0--0--0--|

B--|-3--3--3--3--|

G--|-0--0--0--0--|

D--|-2--0--2--0--|

A--|-3--2--0--2--|

E--|-x--x--x--x--|

outro (ooh, etc):

E--|-3--3--3--3--|

B--|-3--3--3--3--|

G--|-0--2--0--2--|

D--|-0--0--2--0--|

A--|-2--0--3--0--|

E--|-3--2--x--2--|

Traveler

Album: Penny Black
Instruments: Guitar
Guitar Tuning: Standard Tuning

(currently missing chords for the bridge)

intro/outro (in 6/4)

D D G

D D D

D A Dinv

G G G

A A Dinv

G G G

(in 4)

verse:

D G

here i go, i'm awake

A D

no safety net, no fire escape

D G

pounding blood, icy hands

A D

watching all the falling grains of sand

A D G D

how can i abandon this

A D G

the only home i know

A D G A

leaving’s not as hard as letting go

chorus:

oh my father

D G

am i far enough from you

A (Asus4)

as i wander

D Dinv(Dmaj7) G

like we always knew i'd do

i forgive you

D Dinv

but on a night like this

G Bm A D

i can not pretend that i miss you

G A D

and you will not see me soon

(intro)

verse:

making sense (you say you’re nothing like me)

of this place (that i don’t know)

like a knot (my words go through you)

unraveling (just like a ghost)

racing mind (you won’t be far from my thoughts)

out of breath (i’ll leave the porch light on)

A D

i was miles away years before i left

(if you need a place you know)

pre-chorus:

A D G D

but how can i abandon this

A D G

the only life i know

bridge:

years have crackled and burned

all these battles won and lessons learned

my scars just part of my skin

they’ve made the man i am, but i can

still remember the day

i was oh so young and open minded

now i’m off on my own

but i leave behind these words for you

Unsteady

Album: Penny Black
Instruments:Guitar
Guitar Tuning:Standard Tuning

capo on 6th fret

chords relative to the capo

F: x|3|3|2|1|0

E7: 0|2|0|1|0|0

Bflatmaj7: x|1|3|2|3|1

intro (and outro):

F F C C

G G Am Am

F F C C

verse:

Am C

one more up another one down

Am C

maybe we can take another spin around town

Dm Am Dm G Em

I'm not doing much for you, baby won't you tell me what you need

Am C

you think I'm in the dark, yeah you think I can't see

Am C

the trouble in your eyes when you're looking at me

Dm Am E7

something feels different now and I can't breathe

chorus:

F C

when I see you now I get a little unsteady

G Am

don't go breaking my heart before I'm ready

F C

you were trouble right from the start

Em Am

you're breaking my heart

F C

I know it's going to leave me feeling heartsick and hollow

G Am

words won't make it any easier to swallow

F C Em

whatever else you are, you're my favorite scar

optional bit (off of Am on 'heart'):

E--|-------------|

B--|-1-1-1-0-----|

G--|---------2-0-|

D--|-------------|

A--|-------------|

E--|-------------|

interlude after first chorus:

Am G C F

C C E7 E7

verse 2 (same as 1):

first time I saw you I was broken and bruised

you were holding up the bar and I had nothing to lose

it's all a little hazy now

tell me when did we get so damn proud?

I made a few mistakes but I made them with you

and every time I said that we were going to pull through

something feels different now and it's not me

chorus 2 ends on Am, into the bridge

bridge:

Dm Am

maybe we can figure out a fix for this

Dm Am

maybe we can still be friends

Dm C Bflatmaj7 (or just Bflat)

maybe this is the way that it ends

last verse (half verse):

F C

all I want is a way to forget

F C

we're only human and I'm not about to quit on us yet

Dm Am E7

maybe if we take some time we can heal

outro=intro

F F C C

G G Am Am

F F C C

What I've Done

Album: Northampton
Instruments: Guitar
Key: G
Guitar tuning: Standard tuning

As taught by Trevor Lewington:

Intro:

G F C G

F Am G

I'm away to the city

F C G

Never thought I'd have to sell the farm

It's a shame, what a pity

F C G

Now I've got a condo for a barn

Came to town on my tractor

F C G

Didn't want to leave it there to rust

Now I drive to the office, (I)

F C G

‘Cause I never was the kind to take the bus.

Chorus 1:

G F C G

Now… the chicken’s on the chesterfield, the duck’s on the duvet

F C G

Henry the horse is in the hall

G F C G

They say that we should make the best of everything that comes

F Am (to Intro as link)

So that's what I've done

Got a call from my landlord

F C G

He said that only dogs and cats could stay

But he agreed to a treaty

F C G

As long as he got fresh eggs everyday

Chorus 2:

G F C G

Now the cows are in the kitchen and the sheep are on the shelves

F C G

Henry the horse is in the hall

G F C G

They say that we should make the best of everything that comes

F Am (To piano interlude and pipe tune. Chords not covered.)

So that's what I've done

Of all the jobs moving to the city

F C G

A farmer’s is the easiest to take

For if I were a fisherman

F C G

Surely I would have to bring a lake

Chorus 3:

G F C G

Now the donkey’s in the dining room, the pigs are by the pool

F C G

Henry the horse is in the hall

G F C G

They say that we should make the best of everything that comes

F C

So that's what I've done

F C

That's what I've done

F C

That's what I've done

F C

That's what I've done

F C

That's what I've done

Outro:

G F C G

F C F C F C Am G

Rosalie

Album: Penny Red
Instruments: Guitar
Guitar Tuning: Standard Tuning

Disclaimer: this is not in the key of the recording (this is how Brian said he wrote it, possibly plus a capo?). If it is possible to play this capo 9 on your guitar, that will give you the matching key (Amaj/F#m). Otherwise, see transposition below!

instr/chorus:

Am F C C

Am F C Em

Am F C C

Am F C Em

verse:

Am C G F

pre-chorus:

Dm Am

bridge (in 6):

Dm C

F C G C

F (back in 4)

Transposed version (matches recorded key without capo, but isn't the actually played chords):

instr/chorus:

F#m D A A

F#m D A C#m

F#m D A A

F#m D A C#m

verse:

F#m A E D

pre-chorus:

Bm F#m

C#m

bridge (in 6):

Bm A

D A E A

F#m

D (back in 4)

An easier to play version, at least on my classical guitar, is to play chords in the key of Em with a capo on the 2nd fret.

Rolli

Album: Live at Saint Claire
Instruments:Guitar
Key:Bflat
Guitar Tuning:Standard Tuning

Capo on the 3rd fret, all chords are relative to the capo.

chorus:

G G C

Oh Rolli, what's your game?

G Em Dinv

Are you fighting in the war again?

G G C

Carmen holds her cross and chain

Em D G Dinv Em C

Rolli don't be long

verse:

G D G

Paper hand salutes the birds

C Ginv D G

But his mind's in Normandy

G D G

Golden star on flannel shirt

C Ginv D G

But his mind's in Normandy

pre-chorus:

Em D G C D

These commands are nothing that they'd understand

chorus

verse:

G G D G

For forty years, he kept his cool

C Ginv D G

Like a one man company

G G D G

What else can a soldier do?

C Ginv D G

Like a one man company

pre-chorus:

Em D G C D

All alone with demons that they'll never know

chorus

solo:

D D C G

D D Am G

Em Em D D

C C C C

verse:

G G D G

Again the dogs are on his boots

C Ginv D G

Like a POW

G (drop out)

One more old, demented fool

C Ginv D G

Or a POW?

pre-chorus:

Em D C D

Some will say: "they're all the same at that age"

But this is Rolli

double chorus

end of first chorus: Em D C

ending:

G Dinv Em C

C D G

Rapture

Album: Penny Black
Instruments: Guitar
Guitar Tuning: Standard Tuning

Dsus4: x|x|0|2|3|3

C: x|3|2|0|3|3

Csus4: x|3|3|0|3|3

G: 3|2|0|0|3|3

Em: 0|2|2|0|3|3

intro:

Em D Dsus4

C G

D Dsus4

C G

Em D Dsus4

C G

D Dsus4

C Csus4

C C

verse:

where does the time go

C G

self-righteous and rude

Dinv Em D C

leaving the table with a mouthful of food

C G

where does the time go

Dinv

chorus (same as intro):

Em D Dsus4 C G

so top up our wine, tell me a good one

D Dsus4 C G

something about horses and the deputy's son

Em D Dsus4 C G

light up a joint like a firefly captured

D Dsus4 C Csus4 C

laugh about all that we've done

verse: (same as 1)

in a basement apartment

C G

with no clock on the stove

Dinv Em D C

but always some company around

yeah we were never lonely

Dinv

chorus:

Em D Dsus4 C G

so top up our wine, tell me a good one

D Dsus4 C G

something about horses and the deputy's son

Em D Dsus4 C G

light up a joint like a firefly captured

D Dsus4 C Csus4 C

laugh about all that we've done

since the rapture

D D Dsus4

since the rapture

C Csus4 C G

synth solo (verse + chorus):

G G G C

G G G G

Em D C C

C C G G

Dinv

Em D Dsus4 C G

D Dsus4 C G

Em D Dsus4 C G

D Dsus4 C Csus4 C

verse: (same as 1)

so we dreamt of a farm house

with a dog in the yard

cobwebs in the basement

and an old wooden barn

yeah, that's our dream of a farm

chorus: (same as the last)

ending:

D D D Dsus4

C Csus4 C (off)

Em D Dsus4 C G

D Dsus4 C

I've learned a lot of these chords from Brian Buchanan, who has sporadically offered lessons via Skype, and from Trevor Lewington through the 'lesson with a band member' part of their Whitelake fundraiser.

Disclaimer:

These guitar parts are posted here to share my love of this music with others; there's definitely no money involved here except for hopefully encouraging people to support some great bands. To my knowledge, there are not official versions of guitar chords or sheet music for any of these songs (if there ever is, I'll be removing those posts and directing people to the more accurate versions!) If anyone affiliated with any of the bands I've posted chords for objects to this, please let me know and I will remove whatever you object to.